Apex [Imperial: Book 2]

Chapter 29

For a few long moments, Queen Azist stared at me, her dark brown hair rustling loosely in the breeze. "Don't bother asking for Reida to be returned to her caverns," she stated, her lips pursed.

I jolted. How had she known that I wanted to ask her that? Had Thanatos told her? I hadn't thought that he'd overheard us, but... No. Maybe she had guessed. It wasn't as though it was that hard to guess.

A soft sigh escaped me. There was no way I'd be able to convince the queen to let Reida return to my cavern. And her recent escape attempt would have only further hardened the queen's convictions.

"It's something we do with all the dragons that come here, assuming they derive from the same wing," the queen explained, her green eyes still fixed on me. "Give them a few days to get used to the city together, and then separate them. It's for their benefit, really... It forces them to become more familiar with the other dragons in Azarin, which in turn helps them adjust to the city."

Did she really believe that? I knew that I'd much rather remain in the cavern alone than to seek out the company of the strange dragons here. And it wasn't as though I couldn't seek out Reida's presence when I had spare time of a night! Still skeptical, I shook my head slightly before meeting her gaze.

"I also ask that you refrain from spending time with your friend," the queen added, a smug smile spreading across her face when I tensed. "Of course, there is no way I can really enforce that, but do keep in mind that the next time we talk won't be quite as pleasant as this, should you disobey."

Seemingly satisfied, she stalked away, purposely rustling her dark green dress as though to show off its adornment. Leaving me alone with Lord Carlos and Lord Raffael - whom had both been silent as the queen had spoken to me.

I could have sworn sympathy glittered in Lord Raffael's gaze but  it quickly vanished when he glanced towards his brother. For a long few moments, they glared at each other, before Lord Carlos finally squared his shoulders and announced, "I'll get the gear."

"Carlos, wait -" Lord Raffael started, reaching out towards the other lord. But his brother did not pay him so much as a glance as he marched away. With a frustrated sigh, the lord turned towards me. His brows were still knotted in a frown and even his voice sounded tired. "How are you finding Azarin?"

A question that I'd already been asked several times. Were there not any other questions they could ask me? Slightly annoyed, I grunted, "city-life isn't for everyone. I'd much rather be free."

I could have sworn that the lord flinched before adverting his gaze to the ground. "I'm know. I warned them to if anything avoid you and your wing, but..." he threw his hands up in the air with another frustrated sigh. When he continued, his voice was even quieter than before. "No one listens anymore."

Did he really mean what he said - despite being all too willing to follow the queen's commands? Many times he had helped us, but he'd also deceived us. Forcing us to help another human city when he knew we were trying to escape the humans. 

"You still could have warned us," I retorted, my tail coiling back and forth. "You could have warned us of this city!"

Lord Raffael chuckled throatily, his gaze darting back towards me. For a few minutes, he was silent before his gaze landed on something behind me. Curious, I twisted my neck around only to spot Lord Carlos returning, holding a saddle, chains, and a few other bits of gear.

When I looked back at Lord Raffael, his face was blank, his eyes still watching his brother. But in a barely audible voice, he grunted, "Ah, but I have... I've told your wing where you are."

I recoiled, staring at him in wide eyes. He'd told my wing where I was! Which meant that they knew that this so called dragon-city existed! And, if Lord Raffael had told them where I was, he had to have seen them recently!

"How are they? Where are they?" I questioned eagerly, demanding to know. But the lord only shook his head, a small grin spread across his face before assisting Lord Carlos in gearing me up. 

His lack of of answer did not dampen my mood. I was too relieved to know that he had warned my wing. And if they knew, could that mean that they would rescue Reida and I? Could freedom for both of us really be within sights?

No. Azarin was too big, too strong. But maybe they knew that. Maybe they were seeking out help from other wings - although even then, our chances would still be slim. Unless... unless we could help them, somehow. Turn the city's dragons against themselves. Such a task would not be easy, but surely that would help! At the very least, it would confuse the city whilst diminishing the amount of dragons fighting for the queen. 

"I didn't realise that she'd be so eager just to hunt," Lord Carlos remarked, chuckling quietly to himself. 

Twisting my head around, I peered at the lord. His blue eyes held my gaze, even as his lips twisted into a smirk. I snorted, slightly amused. Somehow, I knew that he wouldn't be amused if he knew what I was really enlivened about.

"Fresh meat is fresh meat," Lord Raffael agreed, even as he finished adjusting the straps to my saddle. With a pointed look at his brother, he added, "although you might have known earlier if you listened to her!"

His only response was a glower. 

"Well, I'll be off," Lord Raffael declared, not seeming disheartened by his brother's lack of response. If anything, he seemed more amused, a slight grin softening his face as he strolled away. 

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1008 words

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